Greetings, readers! Today I am welcoming author Kim Cox to The Indie Spot. Kim is sharing some of her experiences as a writer—in her own words! Take it away, Kim…
My Writing Style
Writing Techniques
I don’t think I have any writing techniques. I don’t do any of the things good writers should or are supposed to do. I don’t write every day, don’t set a certain time to write. If there is a certain time, it’s late at night. I seem to be more creative at night, and I’m not a morning person anyway. That may come from working third shift for a while when I was younger.
I don’t have a space where I write. I used to but my home office went away when we made it into a bedroom for my mother-in-law. I think we’d planned to put a smaller desk in my library but my husband is a bit of a pack rat. That room is full of boxes stored with who knows what. Plus, I needed more shelves that my hubby never got a chance to build. Maybe one day I’ll get that space back. But I don’t let it stop me; I write from my recliner in front of the television.
I find that sometimes it takes me a while to get started but once I get started and the muse starts to flow, I also have a hard time stopping. Work gets in the way since I have to get up early. It’s hard for a night person to work days. I’m hoping to retire next year and that won’t be a problem.
Research Techniques
I don’t write the type of books where I need to do a lot of research. Basically, I mainly research places or areas. I do have one book in process that’s set during World War II. I researched that era a long time ago where I published articles for a writer’s resource site. The idea for the site was to have articles on all types of different things from guns and petticoats. My articles were on the World War I and World War II eras. You can find these articles on my website at kimcoxauthor.com.
Anyway, when I’m writing, I mark it on the manuscript where I need to research. I try not to stop when I’m writing the first draft or I’ll lose my flow. Either before or after the second edit, I’ll do the research.
I normally make my towns fictitious but based on actual towns. See the blog article on locations.
To Outline or Not to Outline
No, I don’t normally outline. I did with BEFORE WE WED. I did a brief chapter by chapter outline and it’s the only book I’ve ever done that with—about three-quarters of the way done, I had my first bout with writer’s block. I knew where I was and where I wanted to end but not what to do between. It was getting long and needed to end but there was so much more that would go between where I was and THE END.
It was the first and probably the last time I outline. I normally start writing and around chapter three, I stop and do a short synopsis. I tend to lose interest if I know too much about where I’m going.
Listen to Music or Not When Writing
No. I do have noise going in the background. Sometimes it’s music from the CMT station but usually it’s a television show that I rewind once I’m done writing. I’m a very focused person, so the television doesn’t bother me when I’m writing.
Find Pictures of Your Characters
Yes. But not right away. Usually about the tenth time of having to go back and look for hair or eye color that I decide to find pictures. I have a Character Info file for both of my series. You can also find a Series Casting Board for both on my Pinterest group at https://www.pinterest.com/kimwrtr. Also see my blog article on Hollywood Character casting.
Prefer Writing Single Novels or a Series
I like writing both but only recently started creating series. I have found it easier to jump on the next book when I’m writing a series. I have two series started. One is a romantic suspense series and the other is a paranormal mystery series. The romantic suspense will have at least three books (has 2 now) and the paranormal mystery will have about eight (has 4 now). I also have a few standalone novels started, and I hope to release one the end of this year and one or two more next year, along with book 3 of the romantic suspense series.
ABOUT THE BOOK
Just as Sarah Martin and Jon Clayton say their vows, the police crash the wedding to arrest the groom. Jon is terrified and Sarah is heartbroken. Thankfully, their friends support them emotionally and help find Jon an excellent attorney.
When evidence of John’s guilt is found, he swears he’s innocent. But how can he prove it? As if an arrest and pending trial aren’t bad enough, his ex-wife refuses to let him near their seven-year-old son, and has their shared custody agreement rescinded as part of his bail agreement. But when Jon Jon is injured, Jon breaks the agreement and his bail is revoked.
Sarah sees strange men in Jon’s business one night. One follows her home and attacks her. When Jon finds out, he pushes her way to protect her, but it doesn’t deter her loyalty to him or the attacker’s determination to killer her. Will the enemy get to her?
Is Jon truly innocent, and does he have no idea how the damaging evidence found its way into his business? Are there more sinister people involved? Will Sarah find the evidence she needs to clear him, or will she find out he’s fooled them all? If someone else is framing Jon, who is it and what are their motives?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
An author of Mystery, Suspense, Paranormal, and Romance, Kim Cox lives in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina with her chainsaw artist husband, their West Highland White Terriers, (Scooter and Harley) and an adopted Yorkie/Maltese mix (Candi). She’s also a mother and grandmother.
Kim is published in novels, short stories and articles. Her published works consist of Romantic Suspense Novels, a Paranormal Mystery series, and short stories.
Besides writing, cover design, and publishing, Kim presently works a full-time position outside the home as MIS Specialist for a Workforce Development company.
She is a graduate of Writer’s Digest’s Writing to Sell Fiction and NRI’s Fiction Writing, and has associate degrees in the fields of Office Systems Technology and Web Technologies.
Go to Kim’s Readers List and visit her at the following sites:
Website: http://www.kimcoxauthor.com
Blogs: Kim’s Musings, Kim’s Author Support Page
Social Media locations:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kimcoxauthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/KimCoxAuthor
Google: https://plus.google.com/+KimCoxAuthor/posts
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/kimcox
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/kimwrtr/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimwrtr
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Kim is hosting a giveaway, where FIVE lucky winners will receive one of the following prizes: (1) ebook copy of “ALL THIS TIME” and a $10 Amazon Gift Card or (4) ebook copy of ALL THIS TIME.
“To enter Kim’s giveaway, simply leave a comment anywhere along the tour!”
“The tour sponsored by 4WillsPublishing.wordpress.com.”
The Indie Spot! 